Penny Analysis
Understanding America's hidden currency crisis
💰 Total Lost Change
$62B
Sitting in couch cushions, jars, and forgotten places across America
🏭 Annual Minting Cost
$145M
Cost to produce pennies that are worth less than they cost to make
📊 Cost Per Penny
2.72¢
Each penny costs 2.72 cents to produce — a 172% loss
🗑️ Annual Waste
$85M
Net loss to taxpayers from penny production annually
Top 10 States by Lost Change
Key Insights
📉 The Penny Paradox
The U.S. Mint has produced over 240 billion pennies still in circulation, yet most Americans consider them worthless. Studies show the average American has $28 in loose change sitting unused at home.
⏱️ Time is Money
Economists estimate that handling pennies costs the U.S. economy $900 million annually in lost productivity. The average cash transaction takes 2 seconds longer due to penny counting.
🌍 Global Perspective
Canada, Australia, and several European countries have eliminated their lowest-denomination coins. Canada's penny phase-out in 2013 saved taxpayers $11 million annually with no negative economic impact.
🔄 The Hoarding Effect
Approximately 40% of pennies produced each year drop out of circulation immediately. They're hoarded in jars, lost in furniture, or simply thrown away — requiring constant new production.
⚖️ The Zinc Reality
Modern pennies are 97.5% zinc with only a thin copper coating. The penny industry is effectively a subsidy to zinc mining companies, with the U.S. Mint being one of the largest zinc purchasers.